Afghan Returnees from Iran Face Severe Challenges, Urgent Aid Needed

• A large number of Afghans deported from Iran are facing homelessness and unemployment.
• Returnees urge the Afghan government to provide urgent aid and support.
• UNHCR highlights the need for funding to assist over 1.4 million returnees this year.
• Up to 38,000 Afghan migrants are being deported daily from Iran.
• Migrants encounter difficulties with local policing in Pakistan regarding their legal status.

Growing Struggles for Afghan Returnees from Iran

Challenges are mounting for Afghan returnees who have recently found themselves repatriated from Iran. Reports indicate a desperate scenario where individuals are encountering severe hardships, including a lack of housing and job opportunities. According to TOLO News, many of these returnees have come forth, urging the Afghan caretaker government to take swift and effective measures to alleviate their distress, emphasizing that their already traumatic experience of returning home should not be compounded by further struggles with basic necessities.

Urgent Support Needed for Displaced Families

One of the returnees, Mohammad Sharif, shared his plight, expressing that he feels utterly lost. “Currently, we do not know where to go or where to find shelter. I have three children alongside my wife, and we are faced with unemployment and no roof over our heads. It truly feels as if we are abandoned. Our singular, pressing request from the Islamic Emirate is to help us find a solution to these dire circumstances,” he said. Besides domestic challenges, the Pakistani government has recently stated that it is reviewing the extension of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan migrants, which has left many in uncertainty regarding their status.

Limitations Faced by Afghan Migrants in Pakistan

Malak Awal Shinwari, another Afghan migrant currently residing in Pakistan, indicated the issues migrants are confronting owing to local law enforcement actions. “The Pakistani police have been especially tough on those having PoR cards. These individuals should not be expelled; however, in several areas, police confront migrants with unnecessary difficulties,” he explained. Another Afghan by the name of Atiqullah Mansoor has echoed similar sentiments, requesting the Islamic Emirate to engage promptly with the Pakistani foreign ministry to ease the visa processes for Afghans needing extensions.

UNHCR Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Funding

In a broader context, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently brought to light the pressing need for humanitarian aid, following the return of over 1.4 million individuals to Afghanistan this year alone. The UNHCR’s statement raised an alarm, highlighting that significant funding is urgently needed to support these returnees. Notably, more than one million of these individuals have returned from Iran. Reports from Iranian media cite that approximately 38,000 Afghan nationals are being deported daily via the Dogharoon border crossing, adding to a figure that already exceeds half a million this year.

The situation for Afghan returnees from Iran remains dire, with many facing homelessness, unemployment, and a plea for aid from the Afghan government. The UNHCR’s call for funding highlights the pressing need to provide immediate assistance to vulnerable migrants. As the grassroots efforts and advocacy for these displaced families continue, the international community’s involvement becomes increasingly crucial in addressing this humanitarian crisis.